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Programming placental nutrient transport capacity
Author(s) -
Fowden A. L.,
Ward J. W.,
Wooding F. P. B.,
Forhead A. J.,
Constancia M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2005.104141
Subject(s) - placenta , biology , phenotype , in utero , hormone , fetal programming , nutrient , pregnancy , endocrinology , transporter , medicine , fetus , physiology , gene , biochemistry , genetics , ecology
Many animal studies and human epidemiological findings have shown that impaired growth in utero is associated with physiological abnormalities in later life and have linked this to tissue programming during suboptimal intrauterine conditions at critical periods of development. However, few of these studies have considered the contribution of the placenta to the ensuing adult phenotype. In mammals, the major determinant of intrauterine growth is the placental nutrient supply, which, in turn, depends on the size, morphology, blood supply and transporter abundance of the placenta and on synthesis and metabolism of nutrients and hormones by the uteroplacental tissues. This review examines the regulation of placental nutrient transfer capacity and the potential programming effects of nutrition and glucocorticoid over‐exposure on placental phenotype with particular emphasis on the role of the Igf2 gene in these processes.